Noun
/bɪs/
"Bise" is a term often used regionally in specific contexts. In French, it refers to a kiss, especially a gentle or affectionate one. In English, it might appear in discussions about French culture or could be adopted in informal conversation among bilingual speakers. Its usage is relatively infrequent in English and primarily appears in written contexts when discussing French customs or expressions.
"She greeted her friend with a light bise on the cheek."
"Elle a salué son amie avec une légère bise sur la joue."
"In France, it's common to exchange bises when meeting someone."
"En France, il est courant d'échanger des bises en rencontrant quelqu'un."
"He leaned in to give her a soft bise."
"Il s'est penché pour lui donner une douce bise."
While "bise" itself is not frequently part of well-known idiomatic expressions in English, its French origins can lead to several culturally relevant phrases or usages. The expression "faire la bise" is often used to refer to the act of greeting someone with a kiss on the cheek, which reflects a cultural norm in many French-speaking communities.
"After the meeting, don’t forget to faire la bise to our colleagues."
"Après la réunion, n'oubliez pas de faire la bise à nos collègues."
"In some regions, people do three bises instead of two."
"Dans certaines régions, les gens font trois bises au lieu de deux."
"He felt a warmth in the bise of his grandmother."
"Il a ressenti une chaleur dans la bise de sa grand-mère."
The term "bise" comes from the French language, derived from the Latin word "basium," meaning "kiss." It has maintained its affectionate connotation through centuries of linguistic evolution.